HOYER PAY PARITY AMENDMENT PASSES FULL HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Blue-Collar Workers Included for First Time in Pay Parity

For Immediate Release:

July 24, 2003

Contact Info:

Stacey Farnen202-225-3130

WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the Full House Appropriations Committee adopted the Hoyer-Wolf-Moran amendment to the Fiscal Year 2004 Transportation Treasury Appropriations Bill to provide a 4.1% pay adjustment for federal civilian employees, including blue collar employees, providing them with pay parity with military employees:

“I am very pleased that the Committee supported my amendment to provide a 4.1% pay adjustment for federal civilian employees, including blue collar employees, providing them with pay parity with the military.

“I am especially pleased that we were able to include blue collar employees in our pay parity efforts for the first time. These workers include Munitions Operators who load, modify and maintain 280MM artillery, mortars, bombs, and grenades, and Instrument Mechanics who troubleshoot complex integrated hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical controls/systems. Our nation depends on these workers to maintain our planes, ships, tanks and weapons systems at constant states of readiness. And these skilled craft and trade federal employees certainly deserve pay parity as much as their white-collar counterparts.

“Federal civilian employees work everyday to make this country a better and safer place for all Americans. Whether it is protecting our borders, fighting deadly diseases, researching how to improve our children’s education or working side-by-side with our military, federal employees’ work often goes unnoticed despite the fact that it touches every American life. I thank the Members of the Committee for recognizing their service.”

For a copy of Mr. Hoyer’s amendment please call the Office of the Democratic Whip at 202-225-3130.